Food splatters, grease, and stubborn stains are a kitchen’s worst enemies. Over time, you may notice them affecting your countertops. When that happens, you will need a strong cleaning agent to restore your kitchen countertops to their former glory. Some people make the mistake of using an oven cleaner on their kitchen countertops.
Oven cleaners are designed to remove the buildup of hardened oils, greases, and other sticky materials from the inside of the oven. They contain strong chemicals to deal with stubborn grease. Oven cleaners aren’t made for cleaning countertops, which is why you should avoid using them for this purpose. If you are wondering what the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops is, read on as we’ll tell you exactly what effect does oven cleaner has on countertops.
What Does an Oven Cleaner Contain?
An oven cleaner may contain a variety of ingredients including monoethanolamine (MEA), turpentine, foaming agents, degreasers, alcohol, and sodium hydroxide. All these ingredients combine to create a foam that softens grease so that you can scrape it off the surface of your oven cleaner. Out of these substances, sodium hydroxide is the most harmful one. The concentration of this ingredient isn’t too high, but it can still damage kitchen countertops. Monoethanolamine is another hazardous substance that can damage your countertops.
How Oven Cleaner Affects Countertops
Sodium hydroxide is used in most of the oven cleaners available today. This substance is also used as a paint stripper, which means that you would want to avoid it from getting on a surface that’s painted with a clear finish. For instance, sodium hydroxide may discolor stone countertops that are generally sealed with polyurethane. Tile countertops usually have grout sealer, which is also vulnerable to sodium hydroxide damage.
Monoethanolamine can also damage the kitchen countertops. It is a powerful solvent that may eat into the kitchen countertop, causing permanent surface discoloration, especially to Corian and vinyl countertops. Some homeowners have reported discoloration to their vinyl countertops after just wiping down the countertop with an oven cleaner.
It is worth noting that sodium hydroxide easily reacts with aluminum, releasing flammable hydrogen gas in the process. The reaction can also result in discoloration of aluminum. Therefore, you should never use spray cleaner over aluminum countertops.
Materials Affected by Oven Cleaners
The extent of the damage of the oven cleaner on countertops depends on the material used to make the countertops. Below we have listed the materials that are mostly affected by oven cleaners.
· Wood
Oven cleaners can have a deliberating effect on kitchen countertops. They may eat away the finish of the wood in a short time. Therefore, never attempt to wipe your wooden countertops with an oven cleaner.
· Stone
Stone countertops – be it granite or marble – are very durable. However, they still may not be able to withstand the harmful chemical found in an oven cleaner. A small application of oven cleaner may not damage stone countertops, but you will notice damaging effects if it is applied in large quantities and allowed to stay on the kitchen countertop for a while.
· Tile
Tile is a little stronger than wood, but an oven cleaner would still erode the top coating of tile countertops. Therefore, don’t try to wipe tile countertops with an oven cleaner.
· Stainless Steel
Using any oven cleaner on stainless steel countertops may leave spots behind.
Alternatives to Oven Cleaners
Since you can’t use oven cleaners to clean kitchen countertops, you might be wondering what you should use to keep your countertops clean and shiny. Below we have discussed a few alternatives to oven cleaners that you can use to clean your kitchen countertops.
· Use Countertop Cleaners
There are a variety of countertop cleaners available in the market that you can use to keep your kitchen countertops in good condition. Some of the best ones include:
No products found.
- Clorox Ultra Clean Lemon Twist Disinfecting Wipes
- Clorox Scentiva Multi-Surface Cleaner
- Pine-Sol All-Purpose Cleaner
- StoneTech Daily Cleaner for Stone & Tile
· Use Homemade Cleaner
You can create a cleaner at home and use it on kitchen countertops. Here’s how to make a countertop cleaner at home:
- Combine ½ cup of dish soap with ¼ cup of vinegar and 1 ½ cups of baking soda. Add water to the mix to create a paintable mixture. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle
- Spray the cleaning solution on to the kitchen countertops and wipe them clean
Final Thoughts
Oven cleaners, as the name suggests, are made for cleaning ovens. They aren’t designed for countertops, and while you may be able to clean your kitchen countertops with an oven cleaner, it can damage the surface of your countertops.
Therefore, you should never use oven cleaners for wiping your kitchen countertops. There are specific cleaners designed for countertops, so you should buy them and use them for keeping your kitchen countertops clean and shiny. If you don’t want to invest in a commercial cleaner, another option is to use a homemade countertop cleaner.
We have answered the question, ‘what is the effect of oven cleaner on kitchen countertops?’ If you any questions about the subject or in case something is unclear, feel free to write us a query. We will be more than happy to assist you.
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